Extension-couch.



BBBBBBBBBBBBBB A P P L I C A T I O N P I L B D A P R 8 1 9 1 2. 1,048,943. Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

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EXTENSION GOUGH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1912.

1,048,943. I Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT canton.

JAMES A. COBB, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HARD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

EXTENSION-COUCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,1912.

Application filed April 8, 1912. Serial No. 689,118.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES A. COBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Extension-Couches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in extensible couches of that kind in which the couch is provided with hinged sides which are adapted to be swung to a horizontal position to increase the width of the top of the couch and convert the couch into a bed.

The object of this invention is to provide a couch of this type of simple and strong construction in which the hinged sides are provided with legs which are adapted when these sides are swung to their horizontal position, to rigidly support the same in such position and prevent the couch from tipping when any weight is applied. upon either side thereof, and which can be readily released and moved back out of the way to permit the hinged sides, when not in use, to be folded down at the sides of the couch.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheets: Figure l is a perspective view of a convertible couch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof with the sides folded. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof showing one of the sides raised and about to be extended. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section thereof in line H, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation like Fig. 3 showing the couch with its sides extended.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The couch consists of a stationary main frame which is of the usual angle iron construction and comprises opposite end frames connected together at each side of the couch. Each end frame is composed of a cross bar A and upright supporting legs B B which are rigidly secured thereto. The corresponding legs of the opposite end frames are connected intermediate of their ends by angle iron side bars Z) 6, and these side bars are connected together at intervals transversely of the couch by cross bars 6 6. These parts form the stationary frame for the couch.

To the opposite ends of the top cross bar A are pivotally secured hinged end bars C C, the outer ends of which at each side of the couch are connected by side rails 0 c. The hinged end bars C C with their connecting side rails 0 0 at each side of the couch form the hinged side portions or sections of the couch which can be swung to a substantially horizontal position in the plane of the cross bars A to increase the width of the top of the couch, and can be folded down out of the way along side the legs B.

D represents a jointed wire fabric which is suitably secured to the side rails 0 0 and to the cross bars A and hinged bars C at each end of the couch, springs (Z being preferably interposed between the fabric and the bars to give elasticity to the fabric. The central portion of the wire fabric is preferably supported by coiled springs cl which engage the under side thereof and rest upon the cross bars 0. All of these parts are common in couches of this type and may be of any suitable construction.

The present invention relates to the means which are employed for rigidly supporting the hinged sides of the couch in their eX- tended horizontal position, and the connection between the supporting means and the couch. The supporting means for the hinged sides comprise legs E E which in their normal position stand upright adjacent to the sides of the stationary frame of the couch and are movable outwardly to a position in which they will support the hinged side sections of the couch when the latter are in their extended horizontal position. The legs E are permanently secured to the hinged sections by swinging links 6, or any other suitable connections, which permit the hinged sections to be swung to their horizontal position and the legs to be moved to their inner and outer positions. The links 6 are preferably pivoted to the upper ends of the legs E and to the end bars C of the hinged side sections at a point on each bar at a distance from the hinge connection between the bar and the main frame equal to the length of the link. This permits the hinged sections to swing freely on the stationary frame when the legs are in their normal withdrawn position adjacent to the sides of the frame, as in this position the pivotal connection between the links and the ends of the legs will be substantially opposite the hinge connections for the side sections, and the links will extend inwardly along side of and-substantially parallel with 55 which they stand upright at the sides of the end bars to which they are secured. The hinged sections can thus be readily swung down to their folded position at the sides of the stationary frail te.

The links 0 may be of any suitable length, but are preferably made of such length (as shown) that when the legs are in their outer position with the hinged section resting thereon, the upper ends of these legs will be adjacent to the outer edge of the section. The legs for each hinge section are connected together by a side bar 6, so that the legs for that section will move in unison and form a movable supporting frame for the section. YVhen the legs are in their outer or supporting position with the hinged section resting thereon, the swinging links 0 will extend outwardly along side of and substantially parallel with the end bars or other members to which they are secured. These links will thus hold the upper ends of the legs from outward or inward movement as long as the hinged section rests thereon.

To prevent the legs from tilting and hold them upright in their outer position, any suitable means may be employed. In the construction shown each leg is provided intermediate of its ends with a rigid arm F which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto and which extends inwardly therefrom through a guide slot f in the leg 13 of the stationary frame and is connected at its inner end to the stationary frame by a swinging link f which is pivoted to the link and to the cross bar A. or some other suitable part of the stationary frame. This link permits the leg to be moved freely to and from its inner and outer positions, but is of such length that it will prevent the leg, when in its outer position with its upper end held from movement by the link 6, from tilting or tipping in either direction, as in this position the swinging link f will stand at such an angle to the rgid arm F that it can be moved neither outwardly nor inwardly without a corresponding movement of the upper end of the leg, which is prevented by the link 6. The arm F and swinging link thus cooperate with the link 6 to hold the leg rigidly upright in its outer position.

To move the legs from their normal position at the side of the stationary frame to their outer or supporting position, the hinged side section is swung upwardly beyond its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 8. This permits the legs to be moved outwardly to their outer position and the hinged section swung down to a horizontal position in which it rests on these legs. To return the legs to their normal withdrawn position, it is only necessary to swing the hinged section upwardly from its horizontal position. This movement of the section will draw the legs inwardly to a position in the frame with the pivotal connections between their upper ends and their swinging links substantially in line with the hinge connections between the side section and the stationary frame. The side section can then be swung down to a position beside these legs at the side of the frame.

The legs form a rigid support for the hinged sections of the couch when in their extended position and prevent the tipping of the couch when any weight is applied to these sections. The construction is simple. The legs and hinged sections, when not in use, are out of the way at the sides of the couch where they do not detract from its appearance, or interfere with its use as a couch, and when it is desired to convert the couch into a bed, the hinged sections and legs can be readily and easily moved to their extended positions, increasing the width of the top of the couch and forming firm supports for its extended sides.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a supporting leg for the hinged section which normally occupies an upright position adjacent to the stationary frame, and is movable outwardly to a substantially upright position in which it supports said hinged section, connections between said leg and said hinged section which permit said leg to be moved relative to said section to and from its inner and outer positions, and means connecting said leg with said frame which co'ciperate with said connections to hold said leg upright in its outer position, substantially as set forth.

2. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto tooswing to and from an operative horizontal position, a supporting leg for the hinged section which normally occupies an upright position adjacent to the stationary frame and is movable outwardly to a substantially upright position in which it supports said hinged section, connections between the upper end of said leg and said hinged section which permit said leg to be moved bodily relative to said section to and from its inner and outer positions, and means on said frame for holding said leg upright in its outer position, substantially as set forth.

3. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a supporting leg for the hinged section which normally occupies an upright position adj acent to the stationary frame, a swinging link connecting said leg with said hinged portion, and a swinging link pivotally connected to said leg and to said stationary frame, said links permitting said leg to be moved outwardly when said hinged section is raised and holding said leg upright in its outer position with said hinged section supported thereby, substantially as set forth.

4. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a supporting leg for the hinged section which normally occupies an upright position adjacent to the stationary frame, a swinging link connecting the upper end of said leg with said hinged section, an inwardly projecting rigid arm on said leg, and a swinging link connecting said arm with said stationary frame, said leg being movable outwardly, when said hinged section is raised, and held upright in its outer position by said links and said arm, substantially as set forth.

5. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a supporting leg for the hinged section which normally occupies an upright position adjacent to the stationary frame, and is movable outwardly to a position in which it supports said hinged section, a swinging link connecting the upper end of said leg with said section and adapted to occupy a substantially hori zontal position when said leg is in its outer supporting position with the hinged sect-ion resting thereon, an inwardly projecting rigid arm on said leg which is adapted to slide in said stationary frame, and a swinging link connecting the inner end of said arm with said stationary frame, said leg being held upright in its outer supporting position by said links and said arm, substantially as set forth.

6. I11 an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a movable supporting frame for said hinged section comprising connected upright legs, swinging links connecting the ends of the movable frame with the ends of the hinged section, rigid laterally extending arms on said legs and swinging links connecting said arms with the ends of said stationary frame, substantially as set forth.

7. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a supporting leg for the hinged section which normally occupies an upright position adjacent to the stationary frame,'and is movable outwardly to a position in which it supports said hinged section, a swinging link connecting the upper end of said leg with said section and adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position when said leg is in its outer supporting position with the hinged section rest-ing thereon, and connections between said leg and said stationary frame which cooperate with said swinging link to hold said leg upright in its outer supporting position, substantially as set forth.

8. In an extension couch, the combination with a stationary frame, of a section which is hinged thereto to swing to and from an operative horizontal position, a movable supporting frame for said hinged section comprising connected upright legs, connections between said movable frame and said hinged section which permit said frame to be moved relative to said section to an inner upright position at the side of the stationary frame and to an outer position in which it supports said hinged section, and connections between said movable frame and said stationary frame which hold said movable frame upright in its outer supporting position, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 8rd day of April,

JAMES A. COBB. Witnesses:

RICHARD B. BAILEY, JAS. H. DYETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

